Non-Optional Personal "Favors" for the Boss?

So I have this boss—two really but one is primarily responsible—who take for granted that employees are theirs to do with as they please. Mainly me. I'm a graphic artist and that's a somewhat unusual and useful skill that has translated into a fair number of personal projects, from jokey labels for homemade foods to assorted kid/family crap. That much is not so bad occasionally but the habit has expanded lately to commercial-level work for neighbors, church pals, etc. Fliers, simple websites, posters, advertisements, product labels have all been done and it's ongoing no matter how obviously pissed off I get.

As far as I know this is not illegal, just unethical and wrong. Personally, I find the presumptuousness offensive but as long as it was strictly personal projects it was just mildly so. Commercial work is something else again. I'm a twenty-five year career professional with a lot of household brand-name experience in packaging and retailing products. I get paid for this crap. This isn't an agency where I'm supposed to serve clients. This is a small manufacturer and I make the packaging and similar stuff for their products. I never signed up for other peoples' work and I don't consider it appropriate for my boss to farm me out to some "close friend" of his who wants agency-level work for free. I mean, I decide who I work for, right? And I decide what my fee will be, right? Especially when the fee I'm getting is jack shit apart from my salary. (Speaking of which, just to rub salt in it, this is the lowest salary I've had in about twenty years thanks to the economy.)

Of course, if I say something we know how it will go: they'll apologize but they won't forget the insult or perceived insubordination. What would you do?

Are you able to get all of your work done in 40 hours? Are there projects that you would be working on for the company if you weren't making logos for his cronies? Are you worried that you're not going to be able to devote enough attention to your job duties that actually benefit the company that you work for? If any of those is the case, then there's your opening. Basically, you get paid to use your skills to benefit your company and you want to show that this extra work is taking away from the company's bottom line.

If you have a decent amount of downtime, you might not have as much room to complain. I agree, though, it's pretty presumptuous of him to use company resources to benefit his friends.

Can you go to your other boss? Maybe approach him in a way where you ask him for advice instead of just complaining. That tends to smooth things out a bit.

Unless this guy is the company owner, he's using company resources for his own benefit, possibly at the expense of the company. I can't imagine that his bosses would be happy about that. And if he is the owner, there might be tax implications for using company resources on personal projects. Whoever you bring this up with, make sure you spin it in terms of wanting to do what's best for the company.

Unless this guy is the company owner, he's using company resources for his own benefit, possibly at the expense of the company.

The other is the owner and they both do this constantly, and not just with my time. Two Fridays ago they bought two new iPads for personal use out of the operating budget. (Sending the bookkeeper into a rage cuz she can't pay bills as it is.) They already had both previous models. Meanwhile they can't afford to buy packaging for sales samples that would have cost the same $2300. I get to spend weeks making the packages by hand from spray-glued inkjet paper. They constantly buy stupid toys for themselves from company operating money but sales samples are too expensive.

So they're just sorta assholes. But that's thier business; this is mine. To put it in perspective, I'm making $17/hr. Freelance work at my level is $100+. An agency is way more than that. Unfortunately the market is such that I have to bend over. And they know it.

So they're just sorta assholes. But that's thier business; this is mine. To put it in perspective, I'm making $17/hr. Freelance work at my level is $100+. An agency is way more than that. Unfortunately the market is such that I have to bend over. And they know it.

Presumably freelance pays that well because you'd only have work 1/6th of the time? If not, then either a) you should go freelance, or b) that number is unrealistically high.

How easily could they replace you? It sounds like you need a raise or a new employer.

Presumably freelance pays that well because you'd only have work 1/6th of the time? If

Freelance would be self employed, so payroll and quarterlies come out, equipment, etc. Still way outta line to be giving that time away to unrelated, external businesses without even asking me. Yes, I'm stuck for now for a lack of alternatives but does that make it okay?

if they were a graphic arts consultancy, would YOU really get more money out of the deal? Sure they would bill you out at a higher rate, but you wouldn't necessarily see a change.

Yes because such design positions pay more like $30, which should be roughly similar take-home to that freelance rate after deductions. I have to emphasize, without meaning to sound like a prick, that my 25 years includes branding and retailing whole product lines for national retail chains from names you've heard and bought. The economy is such that new products especially are being held back in most businesses. Mass-market retail crap especially. This isn't the time to introduce a new, improved corn flake for example.

So stuck it is I guess. I'm valuable enough that I could probably say no. But who knows when that will catch up to me? People can be real backstabbers as we all know.

I don't think you have much leverage here, sorry. Hopers summed up the situation pretty well.

If the idea of spending company time on frivolous projects is *SO* offensive to your professional ideals that you're willing to fight fire with fire...you could play the "I've heard the IRS frowns on mixing personal expenses" card. Some breeds of bully only respond to other bullies....

I have to emphasize, without meaning to sound like a prick, that my 25 years includes branding and retailing whole product lines for national retail chains from names you've heard and bought.

You have to ask yourself the question: you have all of this experience, but your boss(es) only think you're worth $17 an hour. Of course they're going to do whatever the fuck they want to you, they view you as dramatically undervaluing yourself and think (or know) they can walk all over you.

If the idea of spending company time on frivolous projects is *SO* offensive to your professional ideals

It's less simple when your product is creative invention. How many original ideas are in me? And how much is the long-term value of a successful brand? Asking me to do something frivolous isn't the issue, as I said up front. It's the commercial-level stuff that grates.

And of course upgrading employment is priority. it's also hopeless, as you may have seen on the news.

Anyway, thanks all. Right mix of validation and commiseration for a Monday whine.

I've been in similar situations in the past. All I can do is offer my commiseration. I contained my indignation while looking for a new job. But I always mentioned it in the exit interview.

One boss said "Well, why didn't you say something?". I replied something like "That's a valid question. What made you think that being someone's personal slave added in any way to my enjoyment of the job?". Yeah. Questions neither of us could answer, but we each got the other's view.

Good old Vern. That was really his name: Vernon. The same guy I had to threaten to drop trou and prove my gender to get him to stop calling me ma'am and miss. Fucking red neck southern asshole.

That depends on what I'm doing. Rinky-dink manufacturer doesn't have much high-value work but it's 40 and check. Freelancing is spotty at best. But if someone wants a high-value project done it should be my call where I price it.

I see what the disconnect is. You are upset that they are getting higher value labor from you than they are paying you for on certain projects.

That doesn't mean that you can do better overall by leaving this company, because if you could have, either working freelance full time or finding a new company, or a combination of both, you would have. Your labor might in some instances be worth significantly more than what you're being paid per hour, but from what you're saying, at this moment your skills aren't worth more than 40 hours a week at $17/hour. Even the people they are pimping you out to won't necessarily pay the rates you envision under normal circumstances.

They're taking advantage of you and you shouldn't stick around if you can help it. But you should have a realistic understanding if what you are worth at this moment.

Personally, I find the presumptuousness offensive but as long as it was strictly personal projects it was just mildly so. Commercial work is something else again.

I think you need to take a step back.

You apparently had to take a job that you feel overqualified for and also have some built-up frustration about the way your current employer runs the place.

You resent what your boss is asking you to do- it sounds like this has more to do with you feeling underpaid for the tasks than anything else.

So, question:

The job market tells you that you need to take a pay cut. For that pay level, would you rather do low level work or do challenging high level work, keep your portfolio current, and get the chance to network with people who need the services you are good at providing?

And of course upgrading employment is priority. it's also hopeless, as you may have seen on the news.

Anyway, thanks all. Right mix of validation and commiseration for a Monday whine.

I don't see good evidence that it is, in fact, hopeless. Sounds like you're discouraged, and that probably makes you even less inclined to look for a job. So buck up and keep looking. Look outside your city, be willing to relocate, etc.

The bosses may have had a choice to make: either find more (graphics artist appropriate) work for you to do, or fire you. Which option do you prefer?

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Longer Version

You were hired to be a graphics artist. Now, you're being asked to do work appropriate for a graphics artist.

Why should you care who the final client is as long as you're being paid the agreed upon salary for the agreed upon amount of hours' work?

Quote:

I mean, I decide who I work for, right? And I decide what my fee will be, right?

Is your salary check coming from the people you agreed to work for and for the agreed upon amount? If yes, I don't see the problem. (This assumes the work isn't morally repugnant; e.g., church work could be a problem.)

I'm somewhat surprised you don't prefer these creative assignments over gluing together pieces of paper, but to each their own.

There's also the possibility, based on you being asked to glue together pieces of paper, that the company doesn't really have enough work for a full-time graphics artist.

So, the bosses may have had a choice to make: either find more (graphics artist appropriate) work for you to do, or fire you. Which option do you prefer?

These folks certainly might be running their business into the ground. Got a problem with that? Then start your own business or work for someone else.

It sounds to me like you have a couple of problems. And the bigger problem is actually that your bosses are using the company as their personal piggy bank, possibly at the expense of running the whole shebang into the ground. Try not to take the personal work too, well, personally. It's just an extension of a larger pattern.

Your biggest concern should actually be that these two chuckleheads run the company right out of business. What is the state of your savings account? If you don't have three months of living expenses saved up, you need to start aggressively saving now. Even if you have a decent cushion, I would consider working to build that cushion up even more.

Your next priority should be to find a new job. The personal projects could maybe help in this regard, because you can put them in your portfolio. At the very least, start trolling Craigslist, etc and look for some more side work. You might want to sign on with Task Rabbit. I often see graphic design jobs on there.

If you have revenue generating jobs that are being shunted aside because you're doing these personal projects, then I think that you should speak up. Otherwise, it sounds like you're probably stuck doing them.

++ to everything Hopers said. Raiding company money to buy the company owner and his best buddy shiny new iPad 3's to replace their shiny not-so-new iPad 2's over the objections of the company bookkeeper is not a behavior conducive to long term company health.

Bottom line is, start looking for a new job now, because if they keep that up you'll be forced to look for a job anyway, so might as well get a jump start on it.

That depends on what I'm doing. Rinky-dink manufacturer doesn't have much high-value work but it's 40 and check. Freelancing is spotty at best. But if someone wants a high-value project done it should be my call where I price it.

One of our manufacturing clients pays its die-shop workers upwards of $50 an hour. Their sales and marketing team is very competitively compensated as well. The money is out there, it's just not at whatever geolocation you happen to be at. Unfortunately it's very difficult to be mobile right now, particularly when you're looking at $17/hr income; I've been there, I do not envy your position, I'm also not trying to shit on you either, so I will add "++ to what Hopers said" - get all the side work you can, pull together about $5000 (a minimum "safe amount" to live somewhere for several months), and haul ass to a location better suited to graphic design work.

Of course I am completely ignoring any family/wife/kids situation here, so YMMV.

Boss, I don't have the time to do that with all the other issues going on at work right now. I'm also opening myself up to possible indemnity issues by doing work for them outside of a contract. If they want my assistance then I would be happy to work up a contract with them at $X/hour.

It could be worse. They could hand you a mop and ask you to clean the place, or go collect their dry cleaning. Most job descriptions contain the phrase "...and other duties as needed", and I've seen some bosses take full advantage of that.

For sure, it doesn't seem like the company is on a path to be solvent for a lot longer, with the current poor decisions they make. Expand your search and aggressively seek out a new job, plus look for side work to augment your salary now.

While we have examples of bad decisions, I don't think we have evidence the company is on the verge of going under. They give out IPads here. They don't have to. There are better investments. But the "indiscretion" is not a concern in the least.

While we have examples of bad decisions, I don't think we have evidence the company is on the verge of going under. They give out IPads here. They don't have to. There are better investments. But the "indiscretion" is not a concern in the least.

Did you miss the part where they can't pay for a necessary business expense because of said iPads?

Not only does that show owners with priorities that are way out of whack, it also means that it's a business without a lot of liquid capital on hand. Not a good combination.

Billium, I want you to know that I do feel your pain. My boss makes me do most of his secretarial work (I am a technician, not a secretary... I'm also the only woman in the office). It drives me crazy. But I do it, because it doesn't impact my regular job duties. And, well, he's the boss.

In a privately held company, those that privately hold it can pretty much ask you to work on whatever they want. Even if that is not directly related to their core business model.

You, of course, have the right to refuse to do that work...but don't expect continued employment.

That's just how business works...business owners have taken the risk to start and run their business. A presumption of that business is that they will hire people at a certain wage, and presumably be able to resell that work at a premium. It really is no concern of yours that they give some of it away for free to their friends and cohorts.

Feel free to start your own business and do the same.

(To add to the calculations mentioned earlier, what would have been your cost to either cold call/adblast an entire market to even get the attention of those church groups/whatever, or hiring someone to do that for you, versus having the boss hand you a contract that would be "$100/hr" if you weren't directly employed by said boss?)

As for the iPads, it would be trivial to justify it as a business expense, so saying they are "personal iPads" really doesn't make any sense...it just sounds like justification for your stance and/or jealousy.

That depends on what I'm doing. Rinky-dink manufacturer doesn't have much high-value work but it's 40 and check. Freelancing is spotty at best. But if someone wants a high-value project done it should be my call where I price it.

That 40 and a check is exactly why someone else gets to dictate what you work on. The fact the freelancing is spotty at best is ALSO why you chose to let that happen. If you want freedom to quote prices...then freelance. See what the market will bear. See if you can drum up enough business to beat that 40-and-a-check model. (Including taxes, insurance, etC)

Did you miss the part where they can't pay for a necessary business expense because of said iPads?

I read the OP's complaint that they had to glue things together while the bosses bought new ipads. Apparently it wasn't a necessary business expense. It was very ineffective but that's not the same. I also saw the mention of 'can't pay bills' but I'm sure there's more detail to that.

Boss: "Hey, Billium, My buddy needs some graphics work done. He's looking for such and such design to fit this kind of space and this is the kind of style he wants."Billium: "Hey, thanks for the tip boss, I love picking up freelance work as a supplementary income. Why don't you give me your friend's number and I can get the details and discuss a contract and pricing with him directly?"

Did you miss the part where they can't pay for a necessary business expense because of said iPads?

I read the OP's complaint that they had to glue things together while the bosses bought new ipads. Apparently it wasn't a necessary business expense. It was very ineffective but that's not the same. I also saw the mention of 'can't pay bills' but I'm sure there's more detail to that.

Yes, bill paying is a serious problem across the board. Like payroll is frequently iffy and collectors sometimes knock on the door. And they're buying iPads (3rd ea so far) to go with the MacBook Airs, iMacs, iPhones (2 ea so far) all from operating budget, not their salaries. Also, guitars and amps and lessons, vacuum tube stereos for the offices, company cars and more. But we don't have raw materials some days. Those tape and glue and paper package mockups are going out to national retail chains, smearing and falling apart, for considering carrying the product. A short run of real boxes with real ink and glue and perforations would have cost the same as the iPads but we can't afford it. I could on quite a bit but I'll stop. As I said up front, that's their business.

Quote:

Boss: "Hey, Billium, My buddy needs some graphics work done. He's looking for such and such design to fit this kind of space and this is the kind of style he wants."Billium: "Hey, thanks for the tip boss, I love picking up freelance work as a supplementary income. Why don't you give me your friend's number and I can get the details and discuss a contract and pricing with him directly?"Boss: well, no, this has to go through me. It's just something I want you to do. Is that a problem?

Boss: well, no, this has to go through me. It's just something I want you to do. Is that a problem?

Yes, it is. So I'm going to go back to work now.

Have you actually tried that, or are you just assuming that your boss will rip off your head and shit down your neck?

"Boss: Actually, no you won't."

This is a privately held company, and presumably non-union...an employee doesn't get to pick and choose what they work on, other than they can choose to work at the company (under the boss's direction) or they can choose not to work at the company.